Marquette thumps Seton Hall; Willard promises “a couple of changes”

Marquette dominated the paint and went on a 25-1 second-half run to drub Seton Hall 67-46. The Pirates (13-14, 2-12) have dropped eight straight, their longest losing streak since 1985-86. Read the game story here. The thoughts and quotes:

How overmatched is Seton Hall underneath? Look at Marquette’s advantages: 43-24 on the boards and 38-14 on points in the paint. Seton Hall hoisted 27 threes and shot 29 percent overall from the floor. With a 6-foot-5 two-guard starting at power forward, the Pirates get worn down easily. At this point they might just be worn out. They seemed to be looking for the soft spot on the canvass during Marquette’s run.

While injuries explain the problems up front, they don’t excuse the gaping hole at point guard. This is 11 games and counting without reaching 70 points. Assists are way down. Amazing to think how much Jordan Theodore meant to this team. It’s a broken record, but injuries are not the sole culprit for the Hall’s nosedive.

Buzz Williams is something else. Sat 10 feet from him during the game. He jumped to the floor to help a fallen player up after a scrum—beating his players to the bottom of the pile. He ripped his tie off and dangled it from his left hand until a staffer pried it loose and tucked it away. He sprinted into the tunnel before the first half ended, not realizing a foul had been called with 0.4 left. And you know what else? Guy is a hell of a coach. Marquette sits in first place in the Big East with considerably less talent than Syracuse or Louisville.

Kevin Willard’s postgame presser was interesting. He implied personnel turnover next year even though the Pirates have just one senior. And he closed the locker room to the media for the fourth time during his tenure. No need to get on a soapbox here—most fans don’t care about this inside baseball—but it was telling that Willard declined even to entrust a captain/veteran to speak for the rest of the players.

It’s low tide right now for the Hall. This is their worst record in Big East play since the 1984-85 team started 0-15. The crowd tonight was maybe in the 3,500 range. The starting power forward is a shooting guard. The starting point guard is averaging 2 points per game, with a season-high of six and 10 goose eggs. This is not to write off next year—the addition of one or two players could make a huge difference—but this year has gone way off the rails.

KEVIN WILLARD’S POSTGAME

“They did a great job of getting after us, beating us up a little bit, which we don’t like.”

“I have answers, I just have to wait until next year to deal with it.”

What he told the players: “I said we’ve got to figure out a way to finish the last five games of the season better than we did tonight . . . obviously there are going to have to be a couple of changes made.”

“The effect of all the injuries have really demoralized this team to the point where a 25-1 run happens and we don’t have much fight in us. That’s a little bit of being young and not having a whole lot of depth.”

“We’re bringing in a couple of guys that have a little more fight than a couple of guys on this team. We have to make a couple of changes . . . get the guys who are hurt healthy and go from there.”

“I’m not really frustrated with them. I’m just frustrated overall. You’ve got Haralds Karlis playing power forward against Big East teams, that’s my frustration point. That’s where we’re at right now. We just need to recruit guys who have a little bit more fight in them.”

“I don’t think it’s the center spot. One of our biggest weaknesses, we don’t have the horses at the four spot. When Brandon and Patrik were healthy, it was a different story. I give Haralds a lot of credit; he’s out there giving it his all. But when you’re battling teams like Marquette and Syracuse, it wears down on you. I think it’s wearing down on us more mentally than physically. Physically, we’re getting out-matched. It’s tough to keep battling when you’re so undersized.”

On closing the locker room for the fourth time in his tenure and second time this season:

“They’re just not in a very good mood to talk. I don’t want them saying anything they shouldn’t say. They’re upset, embarrassed about the way they played. You don’t have a 19-, 20-year old kid in front of a microphone when he’s embarrassed. I think I’m pretty good with the locker room most of the time.”

“Right now they’re all having a little meeting and all going back to their dorms. Again, we have a very open media policy 99.9 percent of the time. You can ask me anything, I will answer. They will not talk today.”

BUZZ WILLIAMS (as told to the Star-Ledger’s Brendan Prunty)

“When we played them at our place, they didn’t have Mobley, they didn’t have Oliver, they didn’t have Johnson. But they did have Geramipoor. Well they’re playing No. 13 (Karlis) at the 4 because they don’t have anybody else to play. So I go out there for warmups and Geramipoor in a boot and No. 0 (Maayan) — in the last game (Syracuse) — played like two minutes. Then in the game before (Rutgers), he played like 20 minutes and started. I told Kevin this — and I don’t know Kevin that well — but how can you f—ing practice? No play, how can you practice? You’ve got 10 guys.”

“So whoever is healthy is playing out of position. And on non-game days, you can’t even practice because they’re out of position and you can’t go up against anybody.”

On not taking Seton Hall lightly: “They’re No. 1 in 3-point field goal makes. They’re No. 2 in field goal attempts. Again — not being negative, because I know how Kevin wants to play — so you put No. 13 (Karlis) at the 4? Well, he’s a 2-guard. But he can really shoot. And you’ve got 21 (Teague) inside or Johnson inside and you’ve got four dudes on the perimeter. All of them are guards all of them can shoot, except for 0 (Maayan). So are going to try and play big? Are we going to try and play small? I just think that’s murder, to try and handle all that out there.”

About Jerry Carino

Jerry Carino has covered sports for the Gannett New Jersey newspapers since 1996 and has been on the college basketball beat since 2003. A native of Old Bridge, he also teaches journalism at Kean University.

Don’t you think it’s a bit hypocritical that Willard wants to ‘protect’ his 19 and 20 year old players, yet just ripped the hell out of one last week in Brian Oliver? This season was a disaster before the ball was even tipped. Willard decided to roll the dice on an NCAA waiver for Gibbs. Thats fine if you have a capable back up. Mayan and Cosby are not viable options for plan B, as the record states.

I’m tired of the excuses not only from this coaching staff, but really every regime over the last 20 years. We’ve gone to 3 NCAA tourneys in that time span! It’s pathetic! I’m tired of being told to wait until next year! If it wasn’t for Shaheen going coast to coast against Oregon and Ty Shine getting hot against Temple, this program would have zero to hang its hat on recently.

The atmosphere was awful tonight. I haven’t seen it that bad since the Blaney years. Sad, really.

One more thing, could Willard put the walk on in? The team is getting blown out, put the kid in. He works just as hard as everyone else.

Jerry has Willard once this season said it starts with the head coach when before or after blaming his kids or injuries? How can you with a straight face say this coach is not responsible for most of this disaster!

I’m with ya. I like less and less of Willard the more this all unfolds, he’s done a bad job since the South Florida game last year. We’ll give him next season to see what they can do. That’s year #4. Bobby G was canned after 4, Blaney after 3. So we shall see what Willard can do. But it’s not encouraging, and him throwing players under the bus is very concerning.

Willard won’t be on any kind of hot seat next year. His job security is excellent, and I think that’s why he is taking such a hard line with his players. Time will tell if his motivational tactics work. Certainly he is at fault for the point guard situation. He’s also had some pretty bad luck with Auda and Mobley.

I had written off Aquille Carr coming to South Orange, but I am starting to think the door might be re-opening. The roster has some good role players when everyone is healthy but needs another difference-maker along with Edwin.

Bottom line: Willard is in the good graces of the people who count. He will get more time than most to turn things around.

How do you defend a guy who throws one of his kids under the bus by saying he faked an injury, takes no blame for his team losing 8 straight and 12 out of 13, and then says his team doesn’t have enough fight? Things are only getting worse for this program, Jerry…and oh by the way, I don’t remember ever reading or hearing about the previous coach ever keeping players from the media while he was there.

Jerry, I agree with your assessment about the Seton Hall University Administration’s confidence with Coach Kevin Willard in turning around this basketball program. This is the rebuilding process this basketball program must go through to become a real basketball team.

If blame needs to be placed for where the program is now it must go to the previous Coach. Bobby Gonzales with all of his antics alienated the Basketball Program not only from area high school Basketball Programs but from the competitive level of major college basketball. Coach Willard is the Coach needing to clean up the mess, and he is doing it.

Despite the current on court situation, I fully support the Seton Hall Administration’s support of Coach Willard and his staff. As an Alumnus I will provide all of my resources to support the current direction of the Men’s and Women’s Basketball program. We have the right Coach and he will bring in the right players. The rebuilding process is not a 3, 4, nor 5 year process.

Jerry,
I don’t know how any player would want to come here and play for Willard. At the first sign of defeat this leader runs for the hills and throws his players under the bus. Last year he said, “Why do we have the only white players who can’t shoot.” Now he’s questioning their character and says he’s going to make changes by bringing in guys “who have a little bit more fight in them.”
These aren’t professionals. They are teeanagers and young men who love the game of basketball. I’d give up on this guy too.
We’re sick and tired of Willard’s empty promises about recruits with “talent” and “fight.” His talk is cheaper than a bottle of Mad Dog 20/20 at Home Liquors. Two summers ago he was bragging to a group of donors about the great recruits they were about to sign. We’re still waiting Coach. All he has to show for his recruiting efforts are MAAC-Level players, players from some mystery academy no one had ever heard of this side of the Atlantic, and transfers who have no “fight.” It’s time for Willard to look in the mirror, stop making excuses and pointing the finger, and put the blame on himself. Excuses are for losers. Take some ownership.
Louis Orr was fired after a year in which he led his team to its SECOND NCAA appearance under his watch, and critics ripped our administration for the firing. At least Orr gave us Brian Laing and Kelly Whitney. Two warriors on the court. (I’m not speaking for Whitney’s recent actions off the court). Our administration was uncomfortable with the way Orr praised God during his press conferences. But apparently they are ok with Willard’s motivational tactics of throwing his players under the bus and ripping them publicly. The SAME players Willard himself recruited and handed out a $200,000 scholarship!
It’s an embarrassment Jerry. This program has become irrelevant under Willard. I’ve followed the Pirates since ’88 and I’ve never seen morale this low. Season ticket holders are refusing to show up. The only buzz at the Rock this year has come from the 6,000 Orange fans who cheered on their team last Saturday. Injuries or no injuries we’re heading for our worst record in nearly 30 years. I don’t care what Buzz Williams says about our team. I only care what our coach says about it, and I don’t like what I’m hearing.
If Willard doesn’t win next year, he’ll come up with more excuses, trust me. That’s his track record. If he does win, I’ll be the first to say I was wrong about this guy. Seton Hall fans don’t ask for much. We want a program that will “Fight, Fight, Fight for the Blue and White,” and go to the NCAAs every 4 years or so. This year will be 7 straight years with no NCAA banner. If Willard makes it 8, our administration needs to seriously consider a change heading into a new league.

Hi Deno. Boy the Louis Orr firing looks worse and worse in the rear view mirror. Remember that Orr had Malcolm Grant, Brian Laing, John Garcia, Jamar Nutter, Paul Gause and Marcus Cousin (who played in the NBA) in the fold when he got canned … and Drew Lavender wanted to transfer but the administration vetoed it (they said grades, but it sure looks like sabotage in retrospect). That’s a pretty good team right there.

Fans like Deno were undoubtedly screaming for Orr’s head back in 2004, and it was the fans, not the administration, that were uncomfortable with his mention of the Almighty.
Our fans are simply the worst in high-major basketball. They praise a program like Dayton, in a nowhere city in a nowhere conference, but who continue their support of the program through dollars and fans in the seats.

We have cavones who get tossed from the game by officials, and blame SHU; the rest just don’t show up, and threaten to take away what meager little they do let out of their moth-eaten wallets when things don’t go the way they’d like.

Wow, a lot of venom on the comment board today! Look, I’m as upset and frustrated as the next Pirates fan, but I think it’s a little unfair to unload on Willard and our team at this point. It’s not like much has changed since the ND game which was 13 games and 12 losses ago. Perhaps at THAT point we (as fans) had a little more hope for a successful season coming off of a 12 – 2 start, but the reality is we (as fans) were being set up for a painful march through the Big East portion of the schedule. If you have watched all of our Big East games, you have to admit that MOST of the time our kids are battling, fighting, and doing their best to compete with the taller, deeper, and more talented rosters of our conference foes (yes, there are exceptions like vs. Providence, @ Georgetown, 2nd half of last night’s game vs. Marquette). It kills me to admit this, but our Pirates just don’t have enough depth and talent to compete in the Big East anymore. At one point (late 80’s, early 90’s, here and there in the 2000’s) this was not the case and the Hall was one of the best if not the best team in the conference. But something happened along the way (TV contracts? our school’s commitment to the program? alumni support? coaching changes?) and now most of the other Big East schools have past us by and have established deep and consistent winning traditions, top-notch facilities, etc. The best high school talent isn’t going to commit to a Seton Hall when they can play on the national stage at a Syracuse, a Louisville, a Pittsburgh, a UConn, a Notre Dame, etc. no matter how hard Willard and the Hall assistant coaches recruit (and let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they work very hard on the recruiting trail). Because of this our program is constantly running up hill and swimming against the current. This has now become a situation where it will be next to impossible for our Pirates to regain a favorable status in the Big East. We just can’t compete nationally with the winning/consistent traditions, deep recruiting pipelines, and support (both financially/budgetary and alumni/gameday gate) that other Big East teams enjoy. This is why I think the move to the non-football 7 conference (with DePaul, Providence, Marquette, St. Johns, Georgetown, and Nova) should do us a world of good. It should level the playing field and put us in a conference with other teams that share similar program and budget philosophies. Let’s assume for now that Willard, his staff, and our players are doing the very best they can competing as huge underdogs across many different dimensions while still being a member of the Big East. They deserve our support for the effort that they are putting forth. Then when the transfer over to the non-football 7 conference happens, the University, the AD, Willard, and the coaching staff need to be ready to act to become major and consistent players in this yet to be named conference. The University needs to throw it’s full support behind the program. Us, as fans, will be looking forward to and expecting that to happen. In sum, this is why I throw my full support behind Willard and the current coaching staff. Our Pirates and our program need to have some established roots, stability, and momentum heading into the new conference. Next year (2013-2104 and Willard’s 4th year) will be a huge temperature test for Willard and the program, but cleaning house and starting over now, just sets us back into similar tailspins that we’ve experienced post-Amaker, post-Orr, and post-Gonzalez. Go Pirates!

My random thoughts:
1.) The second half of last night’s game showed why Marquette will be competing in the NCAA Sweet 16 while Seton Hall will mercifully not be allowed to compete in 16 days.
2.) The only buzz at the rock last night was Marquette’s head coach.
3.) Thank God there only two more home games, as they may change the venue’s nickname from “The Rock” to “the Tombstone”.
4.) Coach Willard needs to get a clue about his post game press conferences. When he essentially calls his players “Liars, quitters, and wimps”, he needs to realize that these are the same young men he has recruited, mentored, and trained for months if not years. Therefore he is basically soiling himself.
5.) Louie Orr = Karma
6.) Like it or not, Coach Willard is safe for this season and next. Unlike previous coaches, Willard literally got to hand pick his old Iona boss and friend Pat Lyons.
7.) The number 2. Starting next year, the 2 new point guards Sterling Gibbs and Aquille Carr have 2 seasons to get Seton Hall back to the NCAA tournament. This will determine whether Willard is the Seton Hall Men’s Basketball coach for the next 2 or 22 years.

BleedingPirateBlue:
I love your passion for the Pirates. You sound like a great supporter of the program, but what makes you think recruiting is going to get any better in a smaller conference? Players play for coaches. Look at how quickly Ed Cooley is getting recruits at Providence. How about Jim Larranaga at Miami? I bet if he was hired by Seton Hall in 2006 he’d have had top recruits in South Orange by year 3, if not sooner. If Willard could recruit, he wouldn’t have had to go to the Canaries Academy.
And I’m sorry about the venom. I just don’t think a college coach who’s supposed to be a teacher, a leader and often times a father-figure for young men should publicly humiliate and embarrass them. And this isn’t the first or second time Willard’s done it. That’s what really set me off.

Fair points Deno. I agree about Willard’s post game public comments. That needs to stay in the locker room. Let’s chalk it up to that he is as frustrated as we, the fans, are. I would like to believe that the program was left in a bad/dark place as Gonzo exited. This, in turn, put the program in a bad light the last 3 years for potential recruits. Did Cooley (@ Providence), Lavin (@ St. John’s), or Larranaga (@ the U) face similar circumstances when they took over their respective posts? I don’t think I can answer that without having full knowledge of the situations at each school when they took over. But Cooley (@ Providence) and Lavin (@ St. John’s) are two excellent case studies to compare Willard and our Pirates to (non-football schools, similar budgets/facilities, etc.). So how does our situation get better at the Hall? 1) We have to get healthy….this is not going to happen until next year but let’s see what Willard and the coaching staff can do with a full and healthy roster of Carr (if he honors his commitment), Gibbs, Mobley, Fu, Teague, Cosby, Karlis, Auda, Oliver, Johnson, Geramipoor, Maayan, and Wilbut (if he honors his commitment) next season. 2) The University and the Alumni MUST be all-in with their support of the program. The hoops program is the athletic draw for the University, so it MUST throw all available resources at the coaches and players so that sustained success can be obtained. Now will this guarantee success? I don’t think anyone can be completely sure, but it’s a start. Willard MUST take # 1 and # 2 and have a good showing next year (NIT at the very least!) to start building positive momentum to draw in Alumni support, fans in the seats, and difference making recruits. But if Willard and the current coaching staff are fired at the end of this year, we’re back at square one again and I would like to think that we’re a bit beyond the step right now despite the terrible season. I feel like the new non-football conference will be a draw for hoops recruits and you can make the argument that with the 7 Big East teams and the others (Butler, Dayton, St. Louis, Creighton, Xavier) that are being speculated, that the level of play might not be that far below what we are experiencing in the Big East right now. And that’s a very good thing. BUT, the Seton Hall University family and the program MUST be ready to act in order to be competitive in this new league and we have to start building momentum next season. The alternative is that we might as well not even have a hoops program at all. What is the point in putting a team out there if it doesn’t have the full support of the university (financing for recruiting, facilities, promotions, the best coaches leading to difference making players) so that it can be competitive every year? And in my mind the best way to be ready to act and have momentum is to support Willard and the current coaching staff. I feel like they are and will be good for the program. They have to know that they are in the cross hairs, that urgency needs to be shown, and that positive change MUST come about in 2013-2014.

About this Blog

Since its launch in 2006, Hoops Haven has become a staple of the New Jersey basketball community. This is the place to find breaking news, analysis and links about college and high school basketball in the Garden State.

About the Author

Jerry Carino has covered sports for the Gannett New Jersey newspapers since 1996 and has been on the college basketball beat since 2003. A native of Old Bridge, he also teaches journalism at Kean University.Email Jerry.